William Shatner is a name that needs little introduction. To most of the world, he will forever be Captain James T. Kirk—bold, charismatic, impossible to ignore. Yet behind the legend is a man of immense curiosity, wit, and surprising passions, among them a deep devotion to horses. It is this quiet, personal side of Shatner that inspired our latest portrait together.
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This session marks the fourth time I have had the privilege of photographing him. Our story began on February 12, 2015, when I travelled to Los Angeles to invite him into my Expressive Portraits exhibition. From that day forward, each sitting has revealed something new—a different tempo, a shift in mood, a layer of character previously unseen.
For our most recent portrait, I turned to Hans Holbein, the brilliant Tudor master whose depictions of statesmen remain among the most psychologically compelling portraits ever created. Holbein was meticulous in his symbolic language—the textures, the stillness, the subtle yet commanding storytelling embedded in every object. I wanted to borrow that sense of quiet intensity.
I envisioned Shatner seated in a scene echoing Holbein’s table portraits of scholars and nobility. A deep navy shirt. A muted ochre ground. Hands clasped, poised in measured thought, as though the viewer has arrived at a meditative pause. The light was sculpted deliberately—Caravaggisti shadowing, restrained but powerful, shaping the contours of experience.
On the table sits a single symbolic object: a small, golden horse sculpture.
This was not decoration—it was biography. Shatner’s love of horses is not simply a pastime; it is a lifelong devotion. He has bred horses, competed, advocated, and spoken passionately of their discipline, athleticism, and grace. The horse therefore stands as Holbein might have used it: a marker not of status, but of identity. An emblem of what drives him when the cameras stop rolling.
Holbein’s sitters were immortalised not through spectacle, but through depth. In the same spirit, this portrait was not about capturing the actor we know, but the man who continues to live with intensity, humour, and conviction. A legacy made not only of starships and science fiction, but of real passions grounded in the physical world.
Looking back on each of our four sessions, I see a chronological portrait in motion—youthful vitality, wry confidence, reflective depth. This latest composition feels like a culmination: not dramatic, but commanding; not loud, but enduring. It is a portrait of presence.
Working with Shatner remains a tremendous pleasure. His timing is sharp, his curiosity genuine, and his collaborative spirit generous. I am certain there will be more sessions, more chapters to add to this ongoing story.
For now, this Holbein-inspired portrait stands as an ode to history and character—a bridge between past and present, and a tribute to William Shatner: actor, storyteller, equestrian, and icon.
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It was an absolute pleasure to photograph Ben Miles, whose remarkable career spans stage, film, and television. From his breakout role in the BBC comedy Coupling to his nuanced portrayal of Peter Townsend in The Crown and most recently as Tay Kolma in Andor, Ben has long stood as one of Britain’s most versatile actors.